PM back home from his two-nation tour

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh returned late tonight after a two-nation tour of Germany and Uzbekistan.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh returned to New Delhi late on Wednesday night after a two-nation tour of Germany and Uzbekistan where the focus was on securing Berlin's support for Indo-US nuclear deal and India's search for hydrocarbon security.

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In Uzbek capital Tashkent earlier on Wednesday, Singh held wide-ranging discussions with President Islam Karimov who offered his country's exploration facilities to Indian companies in the hydrocarbon sector.

India's search for energy security received a boost with Uzbekistan, one of the world's 10 largest producers of gas, offering exploration facilities to Indian companies in the hydrocarbon sector with a proposal that the extracts be shared by the two countries on an equal basis.

Uzbekistan also "resolutely backed" India's claim for permanent membership of the expanded UN Security Council.

Issues relating to enhancement of energy, economic and trade cooperation also figured prominently during their talks.

During his two-day visit to Germany, Berlin indicated that it would adopt a constructive approach at the Nuclear Suppliers Group on the Indo-US nuclear deal.